First Team News

Good week for City loan rangers

Reece Wabara

It was a good weekend for the loaned City stars with only one of the nine players ending on the losing team.

Arguably the highest profile of them all, Roque Santa Cruz, scored but ended on the losing side as Malaga went down 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in La Liga, slipping to third as a result.

Abdul Razak began life as a Charlton Athletic player with a solid display in a 2-0 win over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road – he has since joined up with the Ivory Coast national team.

Razak played 79 minutes of the win against Ian Holloway’s men as Chris Powell’s side continue to improve.

Afterwards, Razak tweeted (@Razak): "Full debut and three points for Charlton- and City win too! Have a great weekend - off to Ivory Coast tomorrow."

Staying in the Championship, Wayne Bridge’s Brighton were held 0-0 at Derby but remain among the leading pack. Bridge played the full game as he continues an impressive comeback to senior football.

Reece Wabara played the full 90 minutes of Oldham Athletic’s 3-1 win over Preston North End as his loan spell at Boundary Park draws to a close.

Paul Dickov’s men climb away from the drop zone as a result of the victory but Wabara is due to return to City before the end of October.

Ryan McGivern played his part in Hibs’ rise to the top of the SPL. The Northern Ireland full-back was part of the side that beat Dundee to climb to the summit North of the Border as the Celtic/Rangers domination looks set to diminish – at least until the Ibrox side are back in the top flight.

Returning to Europe, Dedryck Boyata played for 19 minutes as a second-half sub as FC Twente beat AZ Alkmaar 3-0 while Abdi Ibrahim scored Stromgodset’s goal in the 1-1 draw at Valerenga.

Finally, Omar Elabdellaoui was an unused sub as Feyenoord drew 2-2 with Groningen, as was Mohammed Abu for Rayo Vallecano who beat Deportivo 2-1.